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U.S. says diplomacy is preferred path to Iran nuclear resolution

While the U.S. agrees with Israel that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, the U.S. prefers diplomacy as path to denuclearization, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

Jen Psaki, the spokesperson for the State Department, made the remarks during her daily press briefing. Psaki responded to a question about statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a speech at the U.N. Netanyahu said Israel would be willing to act alone to stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb.

Psaki said the U.S. wants to keep the diplomatic path open when it comes to Iran's denuclearization.

"That is not a new statement on (Israel's) part," Psaki said. "And we've been clear we're also keeping options on the table and we're not going to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. But of course, diplomacy is the preferred path, and that's why we're pursuing the path we are, which as you know, was a part of the discussion just yesterday, when the prime minister was here meeting with (President Barack Obama) and when he was meeting with (Secretary of State John Kerry)."

Psaki said the U.S. is in lockstep agreement with Israel that Iran should not be able to acquire a nuclear weapon. When asked what Netanyahu thought about diplomacy as a step toward denuclearization, Psaki deferred the question to the government of Israel.

"I can only speak for what our view is and what our position is," Psaki said. "And when I said lockstep, what I'm referring to is the - we agree that we cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. There's agreement on that."